Review of LAST NIGHT AT VILLA LUCIA by Simon McCleave (New Release)

2.5 Stars

Though Simon McCleave has written 30 novels, this is the first time I’ve read one. This is his first standalone, not one of his DI Ruth Hunter, DC Ruth Hunter Murder File, or Anglesey series. Unfortunately, I was not impressed.

After a divorce from her husband Nick, Cerys Williams now owns a Tuscan villa which she operates as a B&B with the help of Lucia and Lorenzo, a couple who live nearby. Cerys struggles with alcoholism though she tries to hide her drinking from her daughter Lowri who is staying with her for a while. Guests arrive from England: Harry and Zoe and their son Charlie. Harry, who is described by family members as “a selfish, self-absorbed, predatory bastard” and an “absent, hostile and selfish father,” antagonizes everyone so it’s not surprising that it is his body that is found floating in the pool. The rest of the book focuses on finding who killed Harry.

In many ways this is a locked room mystery, though there is an attempt to suggest someone from outside the villa could have killed Harry while trying to rob the villa. This explanation does not ring true. In fact, the entire police investigation is unrealistic. To eliminate suspects, the police take fingerprints and DNA from everyone at the villa but not from Lucia and Lorenzo who work there? Car keys are apparently stolen but there’s no reference to the car? When Charlie is questioned, his mother is allowed to sit in on one interview but not on a second one?

The author tries very obviously to make everyone a suspect. Multiple points of view (Cerys, Zoe, Lucia) are used to suggest motives for various characters. However, I found it so easy to predict the murderer, especially because of the flashbacks. The fact that there’s such reliance on coincidence to bring characters together affects the novel’s credibility.

Characters are not likeable so it’s difficult to care about them. So many feel they are not being treated fairly. Men in particular are portrayed negatively; both Nick and Harry are controlling and violent, and even Charlie and Lorenzo are described as capable of anger and violent explosions. The women are weak victims; both Cerys and Zoe had long-term relationships with abusive men and did virtually nothing to remove their children from dysfunctional households.

There are both needless repetitions and unanswered questions. Is it necessary to make reference to Lorenzo’s dubious past every time he’s mentioned? How many times must we be reminded that Harry smokes cigars? I understand why but there’s no need to be so obvious. The vehicle that Lucia and Lorenzo see watching their property – in the end we’re just supposed to dismiss it as irrelevant? There’s also the huge plot hole surrounding much of Nick’s behaviour.

This book wasn’t for me. The plotting in terms of red herrings and twists is just so obvious. I prefer mysteries with more nuance. (Potential readers should be aware that the book touches on several serious topics like alcoholism, sexual assault, and domestic abuse.)

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.